This book investigates the institutional evolution of the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory and its pivotal role in shaping American aviation research from 1917 to 1958. James R. Hansen, a historian of science and technology, utilizes extensive archival records and primary source documentation to trace the laboratory's growth from a small experimental station to a massive research facility. The text argues that the laboratory's engineering culture and administrative structure were the primary drivers of technological progress in flight during the mid-twentieth century.

Experts in the history of technology frequently cite this work as a definitive account of the NACA's organizational development. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a comprehensive look at the technical challenges faced by early aeronautical engineers.